Saratoga notes: Windswept may be stakes bound after impressive win
This content is part of a free preview of DRF Plus. Click to learn more.
It’s not all about the brothers Dan for trainer Charlie LoPresti.
On Thursday, LoPresti sent out Windswept to a 9 1/2-length, second-level allowance win here. Granted, it was only a four-horse field, but Windswept ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.14 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103.
“I always liked him a lot; I really liked him after yesterday,” said LoPresti, who trains the graded stakes-winning brothers Wise Dan and Successful Dan. “I thought he would run good, but he ran past my expectations yesterday. He pressed the pace, and he won by 9 1/2 lengths. The time was good.”
LoPresti trains Windswept for Bertram and Richard Klein. Elaine Klein, Bertram’s wife and Richard’s mother, recently died.
The Kleins have the majority of their horses with trainer Steve Margolis but gave Windswept to LoPresti because he has helped bring this horse back from physical issues several times.
“We do all the Klein layups, and we break all their babies,” LoPresti said. “Most of them go to Steve Margolis. This horse they wanted me to have because we do such a good job with their patch-up horses.”
LoPresti said he would consider running Windswept in the inaugural $175,000 Homecoming Classic during the Churchill Downs September meet.
Reserve Travers picnic tables
Fans will have the opportunity to reserve picnic tables in the backyard for Travers Day.
The New York Racing Association announced that it will set aside 10 percent of the picnic tables for reservations. Fans can register at nyra.com.
Fifty registrants will be randomly selected from all eligible entries for the option to purchase one of the designated picnic tables. The tables will be located in a reserved section in the backyard adjacent to the Paddock and Big Red Spring.
The cost to reserve a table – limited to a maximum of six people – is $100, with proceeds going to the Backstretch Education Fund, which provides educational opportunities to backstretch workers.
Fans can register until 5 p.m. Tuesday, and selected parties will be notified by email.